If you are unable to open the door, you will need to try to remove the door panel to access the internals of the door, including the latch mechanism. From there you should be able to remove some parts to open the door & then properly put everything back together. Here is an exploded view:

Thanks Wes, the information helps, but what I really need to know is precisely what can be removed from the inside of the door that will release the latch? The screws that hold the latch assembly in the door come through from the outside of the door. You cannot access these with the door shut.

I have taken the other door panel off of the passenger side to compare it to the driver's door, so I will kow what I need to remove. It is very dificult to rull remove the panel from the drivers door while it is shut. Some damage may occur to the panel while trying to remove it.

Sorry it took so long to get back to this response. You can get the door panel off wit out damaging it. Just have to be very careful. If you can get the rear driver's side seat out, that would give you some extra room to work there. There are a few clips, that can be replaced as long as no damage to backside of door panel. Removal of key pieces of the door panel like inner door handle, window controls, light, security indicator, should assure removal of door panel.

Now with the latch, once inside, you will have to remove the rods to the outer door handle. There are little plastic snap pieces that hold the rods together on the different components, be sure not to break them. They can carefully be removed with a flat head screwdriver, by popping the plastic snap off of the rod & turning it away from it, then lift the rod out of the plastic snap. Once inside, you can try to remove the actuator assembly from the latch. It unscrews. You can try pulling on the some of the rods to see if by chance the door will unlatch, if not you will need to get a drill inside the door & drill a1/4" hole in the latch/lock mechanism from inside of the door, just abovethe star shaped rivet. It may take more that one drilling session to get the latch to release. Hopefully that might help a little bit better. any other questions, please feel free to contact me again. Thank you.

Thanks Wes, that was very good information and it will be helpful in performing the final steps of releasing the door latch. If by chance you have a picture or a diagram of the position of the star on the latch assembly that would be really helpful. Since the lock assembly is so hard to access it really become quite hard to see this while it is still in the door.

Last but not least you speak of removing the rear drivers seat? This is a 2 door coupe and the rear seat is a full bench seat, which I can remove if that is what you are indicating? I'm wondering if it would be helpful to remove the drivers seat itself or is it just best to position it all the way forward or back to perform this work?

Removal of the driver's side seat, helps you get into a tight spot & have as much room to work with as possible. You may need to remove the center console & passenger side seat as well.

Now, here are some photo's of the latch assembly & where to drill:

&

Now, there is rumor to push on a dowel as indicated in the first photo, if you press it, it will open the door without drilling. If not the second you be a good place to start drilling. Any other questions, please feel free to contact me again. Thank you.

I hope this works better. Sometimes it is a good source of information from threads like these. They do not have factory recommended repairs, but can get some good pictures, the OEM does not provide. If you are having problems opening items, try right clicking the mouse & then open in a new window. Any other questions, please let me know. Thank you.

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